Brighton branch of Iceland set to close next month

The supermarket chain’s store on London Road in Brighton will close its doors for the last time on July 2 at 4pm.

Shoppers will have to travel to Blatchington Road in Hove or to their store in Boundary Road in Portslade to buy goods and pick up deals from the store.

Plans to demolish the former 1930s Marks and Spencer store and replace it with a five-storey block of student housing were approved last year by Brighton and Hove City Council, despite concerns about pollution along the road.

Some 156 purpose-built student flats will be built as part of the development, along with new retail floorspace.

Last year, Iceland told The Argus that they hoped the supermarket could maintain its presence on London Road.

A spokesman for Iceland said in February last year that “the lease on our London Road store in Brighton runs until September 2022, so we will be continuing to trade there at least until then and hopefully for longer”.

An artist's impression of how the development will look when completed

The fate of the neighbouring Poundland store, which is also housed in the building set for demolition, is unclear.

The development will feature an entrance on Providence Place, which some residents have expressed support for as a way to tackle antisocial behaviour and drugs issues in the area.

McLaren Property development director David Atherton said last year: “The existing building has now reached the end of its economic life and is sadly attracting antisocial behaviour.

“The proposed replacement incorporates fit-for-purpose retail space and makes efficient use of the site to also provide properly managed student housing that will help take the pressure off local housing stock.”

The branch of Iceland on London Road will close next month

Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh expressed concerns about the plans in a council meeting last year, voting against the proposals over fears around air quality.

In the meeting, she said: “We heard from the council’s air quality expert that he does not know if nitrogen dioxide levels will be down to the legal level by the time this building is occupied.

“I can’t vote for other people’s children to be poisoned while they’re living and sleeping.”

Iceland have been approached for comment.